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" ATENT FFICE.

JOHN S. PESSENGER, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM P. ST. JOHN, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

SHELL.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,683, dated March 10, 1885. Application filed October 20, 1884. (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. PESSENGER,

and State of New York, have invented a new i and Improved Projectile, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to projectiles for cannon and fire-arms; and it consists in a projectile having a solid outer shell, with an interior chamber for the bursting-charge, an open-ended chamber at its base for the propelling-charge, and a fuse connecting the two chambers, as more particularly pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is a longitudinal central section of a shell constructed according to my invention.

With particular reference to the drawing, A represents a cannon, and B a shell. The shell B is hollowed out at its base, so as to form a (-hainberya, having the walls I). This chamber is adapted to contain the propellingcharge, and is entirely or partially open at its end. With the chamber a communicates, by a contracted neck,d, a chamber, 6, containing the bursting-charge. This chamber is entirely closed at its front and sides, as shown.

f is a hollow plug fitting into neck d. The plug may be provided with screw-threads to engage corresponding screw-threads of the neck, as shown; or it may be locked to the neck by tongue and groove or in other manner. Through the bore of the plug fthe fuse g is introduced, and extends into the front of chamberaand into the back of chamber e.

To charge the shell the plug f is first removed, the chamber 6 is filled, and the plug, with the fuse projecting through it, is fastened into neck d. Finally, the propellingcharge contained in a powder-bag is placed into chamber a, and may, if desired, be tied in place by a cord attached to. the end of p f- The operat1on of the shell 1s as follows: As the propelling-charge in chamber a is ignited, the shell is thrown from the cannon, and the fuse,being ignited by the propellingcharge,will gradually, during the flight, burn within the plug. As soon as the spark from the fuse comes in contact with the burstingcharge'in chamber 6, this charge is ignited and will explode the shell.

It will be seen that the explosion of this shell is not dependent upon the striking of a percussion-fuse against the ground or other resistance, as is the case with the shells ordinarily used. By making plugflonger or shorter, or by introducing the fuse to a greater or less extent into the bursting-chamber, the time between the firing and bursting of the shell may be regulated. NVhen the bullet is fired from a fire-arm, no shell is left behind it, as with a cartridge.

I am aware that a projectile has been made having a chamber for the explosive material within its body and a fuse leading therefrom to an air-chamber in its base.

I am aware of Patent N 0. 49,326, L. WVells, July 28, 1865, in which is shown and described a shell having an interior burstingcharge chamber and a recess or air-chamber at the rear of the shell, the two chambers being connected by a metal fuse-tube. My invention differs from this in that I form a propellingcharge chamber in the base of my projectile and provide means for securing the charge in position. 1

I claim as my invention- 1. A projectile consisting of a solid outer shell or body having an interior chamber for the bursting-charge, an openended chamber at its base for the propelling-charge, and a fuse connecting the two chambers and extending to the head of the propelling-charge chamber, substantially as described.

2. A projectile consisting of a solid outer shell or body having an interior chamber for the bursting-charge, an open-ended chamber at its base for the propelling-charge, a contracted neck connecting the two chambers, and a hollow plug fitting said neck, carrying a fuse, and having a head to which the propelling-charge may be secured, substantially as described.

JOHN S. PESSENGER.

Witnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, ROB. H. ROY. 

